Flake, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, previously called for an FBI investigation into accusations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh after both he and Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Those not interviewed in the reopened background investigation included Mr Kavanaugh himself and Christine Blasey Ford, who alleged he had molested her in a locked room at a 1982 high school gathering.

Kavanaugh's nomination has become a flashpoint in the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault.

In his testimony, Kavanaugh complained about "a calculated and orchestrated political hit fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election".

One is Mark Judge, who the professor says was in the room when Kavanaugh lay on top of her, ground his body against hers and covered her mouth to keep her from screaming.

Most Democrats opposed Mr Trump's nomination of Mr Kavanaugh from the outset.

His column appeared aimed at winning over the three GOP senators who remain undecided. Kavanaugh's confirmation process has been rocked by multiple sexual misconduct allegations, all of which Kavanaugh has vehemently denied.

Durbin says he understands that "this has to be a awful ordeal" for Kavanaugh and his family, but adds: "The fire in his eyes when he turned into this partisan screed is something I'm not going to forget".

"But I think that his performance during the hearings caused me to change my mind", Stevens said in Florida.

Thousands gathered at Washington's Hart Senate Office building on Wednesday to protest the appointment of US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

"Before left-wing outside groups and Democratic leaders had him in their sights, Judge Kavanaugh possessed an impeccable reputation and was held in high esteem by the bench and the bar alike", Grassley said.

Trump weighed in shortly after the roll call was announced, tweeting, "Very proud of the U.S. Senate for voting "YES" to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh!".

"This investigation found no hint of misconduct", Senate Judiciary Committee chairperson Chuck Grassley said in a statement. "There's nothing in it that we didn't already know".

"So far, none of the Republican senators have vouched to vote against Kavanaugh, although four in the party have not committed themselves to supporting him."

Complicating things for the Republicans, another of their senators, Steve Daines of Montana, announced Thursday night that he has a scheduling conflict: his daughter is getting married Saturday in that western state and he plans to attend. Murkowski has indicated she will not vote for Kavanaugh in the final vote, which could take place Saturday.

Brett Kavanaugh owned up to his "too emotional" testimony and voiced other regrets in his final plea for a seat on the Supreme Court, right before The Senate will vote on his confirmation on October 5.

Heitkamp said she was troubled by Kavanaugh's aggressive appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the message his confirmation would send to women and girls across the country.